Directed by:
Tommy WirkolaCinematography:
José David MonteroComposer:
Christian WibeCast:
Noomi Rapace, Christian Rubeck, Willem Dafoe, Glenn Close, Pål Sverre Hagen, Vegar Hoel, Stig Frode Henriksen, Marwan Kenzari, Jeppe Beck Laursen (more)VOD (1)
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In a not so distant future – where overpopulation and famine have forced governments to undertake a drastic One-Child Policy – seven identical sisters live a hide-and-seek existence pursued by the Child Allocation Bureau. The Bureau, directed by the fierce Nicolette Cayman, enforces a strict family planning agenda that the sisters outwit by taking turns assuming the identity of one person: Karen Settman. Taught by their grandfather who raised and named them – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – each can go outside once a week as their common identity, but are only free to be themselves in the prison of their own apartment. That is until, one day, Monday does not come home... (Locarno Festival)
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Reviews (11)
Cats have nine lives, while Karen Settman has seven, and each of them is a complete original. What Happened to Monday relies on an original idea and is anchored by the performance of Noomi Rapace, who manages to breathe life into seven identical yet so different sisters. Overpopulation is a hot topic even today and the film manages to build a pretty solid plot around dealing with this issue. Thanks to the hunt for the seven sisters, the film doesn't lack suspense and entertains for most of the running time. In terms of the screenplay, it also has some decent twists, some of which were predictable, but some quite surprising. A bonus is the participation of Glenn Close and Willem Dafoe, who almost always guarantee god performances. Weaker, but still four stars.
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At first glance, an attempt at something fresh and new, plus drawing on the tried-and-true, with a repressive regime like Hunger Games and angular futuristic cars like The Island. It can be argued that the visual opulence is a bit low-key and that 2073 looks more like 2037, but what can be done for half the budget of a major blockbuster? The B-movie casting (with the exception of two names) is also hard to disparage. Unlike Glenn Close, who is off, Noomi Rapace does a good job again. Firstly, as an action heroine against her will and secondly, portraying 7 different characters is probably not very easy, plus the fact that only Charlize Theron can play such a physical role of a "male heroine" today. Except for the last 20 minutes we have a pretty decent mix of Bourne and something with a gloomy social post-apocalyptic atmosphere. The ending is botched and the twist predictable.
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One of those dystopian sci-fi flicks with many aspects that deserve criticism. But thanks to the premise and to how well it is made, you will quickly forgive all its shortcomings and you will enjoy the overcrowded world that a female dictator is trying to regulate. Noomi Rapace’s acting performance is out of this world. Probably similar to James McAvoy’s work in Split last year. I would never have thought that a single actress could create a different set of emotions for each of the seven characters that she plays in this film. It’s pretty clear she is in charge of this sci-fi movie. And since she is a pleasure to behold, it is a pleasure to watch the entire movie as well.
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The idea was good, but it was handled reprehensibly. The whole plot and the twist were as embarrassing as Glenn Close's botox. The only thing keeping it afloat is Noomi’s performance, but unfortunately she tried her best in a crappy movie. The last quarter of an hour is like a bad parody, does anyone still enjoy these copycat movie endings?
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This is a film in which the early killing of the “main character” superbly sets everything in motion. What Happened to Monday is an excellent sci-fi flick with a concept that serves as the foundation for a dramatic arc of emotions, surprises and constant suspense, not to mention spectacular action, in a dystopian world with a totalitarian system verging on a fascist monstrosity. Powerful villains led by the frightfully cold Glenn Close, her “perfect SS general” and the forceful countenances of the commandos. The stalemate of the main protagonists, played superbly by Noomi Rapace. Gore and sex. Tommy Wirkola has left all of his genre contemporaries in the dust! P.S. I’m not giving this a fifth star only because of the slightly implausible and needlessly overwrought ending.
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